The Hills arrive

We haven't been back to the UK since January but Nadine, Alfie & Betty started their second visit of the year on 1st August.

A very happy AlfnBets at Stansted airport about to board the plane...

...and nearly the first off the plane in La Rochelle.

Happy journey back to La Tranche

First things first, pool time with Sacha...

...and too cool dudes in matching towel robes!

Next day Nadine returned from her run not needing a shower

Betty & Alfie looking closely at the big waves by the jetty...

...perhaps a little too closely!

Meanwhile there's my doppelgänger in the shower...

...and Betty does her now famous penguin impression!

Showing the siblings around (4)

Our last sortie in Southern Vendée before Ann & Pete returned to Blighty.

Le Rocher beach

Further up the coast, dropping down onto the beach at St Vincent-sur-Jard...

...where the famous wartime politician Georges Clemenceau had a holiday home overlooking the sea. Here we're overlooking his bust peering over the garden fence!

Still in St Vincent, your faithful blogger with Ann & Pete...

Ann's photo of her brothers with Tine (and yes, taximan is drinking ice tea)!

The old abbey at Lieu-Dieu, now luxury apartments apparently. You can no longer wander around the grounds.

Final stop at Avrillé with the tallest standing stone in Vendée...

...and two Neolithic remnants trying to look casual.

Showing the siblings around (3)

Another day, a bit more sightseeing.

Pete, Ann & your faithful blogger at Port Bourgenay

In front of the church at Talmont...

...where Richard the Lionheart's castle is to be found (well one of them anyway).

Le Park de la Guittière...

...with its most famous product.

Nearby there's l'Observatoire des Marais (view over the reclaimed marshes) at La Vinière

Each day, though, we're somehow drawn to the Starfish...

...with Matt seeing his auntie for the first time in a long, long time.

Showing the siblings around (2)

The sightseeing trip continued! First to Luçon, a larger town about 30 minutes away from La Tranche.

It has an impressive cathedral, complete with impressive sheet to hide ongoing renovation works

There are cloisters...

...and even a monk and two nuns!

The same gargoyle...

...two different views.

It's hard to get the full height of the spire in a photo...

...even harder to get these superstars together. (Where's Kate?!)

Onto the now land-locked island, La Dive, not far from l'Aiguillon.

Three likely ones have climbed to the top

You can see the original sea cliff here

And above? Monique's cousin's house. Sadly they were rushing off but told us to have a mooch round.

Showing the siblings around (1)

Normally we don't do much visiting in the summer season as it can be very busy everywhere. We had to make an exception, of course, for Ann & Pete to see a little more of what South Vendée has to offer.

First stop le Château de la Brunière, about 20 minutes from La Tranche

We visited the grounds on a 'journée du patrimoine' (heritage day)...

...but sadly couldn't visit the interior.

Then back to Curzon...

...for the traditional visit of the crypt...

...this time with extra-added closing of the access 'doors'!

La Fête Nationale (or Bastille Day)

You can choose which one but the French usually use the first. Fireworks are a common feature of the celebrations, and La Tranche's were way up to standard.

Even in video! This was the finale.

So far so good for fireworks part two on Ascension Day (15th August but the display is the night before). Last year's was cancelled due to fire risks in the drought.

Idle Fingers, our favourite local band, played at the Starfish a few weeks ago. This version of Maniac is especially for my sister-in-law Sylvie!